I went to Chino Latino for the first time a couple of years ago and the meal that they served us was so miniscule that I never went back. Since then, much to my consternation, they have been showered with awards and accolades and many people claim that they are the best restaurant in Nottingham.
Then
Troubled Diva, Nottingham's Finest Blogger, produced a
review of such swooning, extravagant praise that I began to wonder if I had been to the same restaurant. Perhaps I had better go back? So I called in for a rushed lunch on Saturday before driving to London for a poker game.
A word about the name. "Chino Latino" conveys the appalling prospect of some kind of fusion of Oriental and Latin-American cusine. But thankfully it is the restaurant which is
Chino while the cocktail bar is
Latino.Throughout our 2 hour lunch both bar and restaurant remained completely empty save for a single drinker who could be heard complaining loudly into his mobile about having paid £3.50 for a small bottle of beer.
It would be churlish to complain about a lunch costing only £9.95 for two courses and indeed the food was certainly good value. But after all the hype and awards I have to say that I'm still underwhelmed. The sushi came in rather large, inelegant chunks though you couldn't fault the quantities. My crispy fried squid was somewhat bland and the jungle curry of monkfish (with
grapes!) was just eccentric. I didn't have time for a dessert, which if Troubled Diva is to be believed may have redeemed the whole experience, and I departed for London and a ruinous but enjoyable evening of poker.
